Health outcomes following primary Androgen therapy in a population-based cohort

There are scant data on how quality of life is affected among men with prostate cancer who have no symptoms related to the tumor but are receiving adjuvant hormonal therapies. Evidence from such patients on the effects of various androgen suppression therapies on the quality of life is urgently needed.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, quality of life outcomes of 431 men with all stages of prostate cancer who received orchiectomy versus LHRH agonists within 12 months of initial diagnosis were included.

Results:

Sexual function outcomes were similar between the two groups

More breast swelling was seen in LHRH group

More patients reported physical discomfort and worry due to cancer in the LHRH group

Authors' Conclusions

Quality of life outcomes appeared similar following orchiectomy versus medical hormonal therapy, although more patients in the medical therapy group developed physical and mental discomfort

Stage at diagnosis was not associated with health status at one year of follow up

Clinical/Scientific Implications:

Quality of life outcomes of patients who received androgen deprivation therapy are not universal among individual patients

When patients select their own treatment strategy, it is expected that some level of satisfaction would be expressed during a short (1 year) follow-up interval. These expectations are known to influence subjective assessments